Valbenny's Late Charge Captures Miesque

(from Hollywood Park report)Irish-bred Valbenny, making her first U.S. start, rallied impressively from tenth in the final quarter under jockey Alex Solis to win the Miesque Stakes (gr. IIIT) on the Hollywood Park turf by three-quarters of a length over favorite Mystic Soul Saturday.

Spenditallbaby was a neck farther back in third, while Super Freaky finished fourth in the field of a dozen 2-year-old fillies.

"I saved all the ground the first part," Solis said. "When I got to the half-mile pole, I saw Migliore (on Brushed Gold) in front of me and he was making a nice move, so I parked behind him. At the five-sixteenths, I put her on the bit and, at the quarter pole, I got in the clear and she did her thing. I never worked her, but I saw her tapes from Europe and she was very impressive."

Valbenny, a daughter of Val Royal transferred to Patrick Gallagher's stable after winning once in three races in Great Britain for trainer Alan Swinbank this summer, covered one mile in 1:36.58 while paying $20.60, $10.60, and $7. Mystic Soul, ridden by Aaron Gryder, paid $5.20 and $4. The show payoff on Spenditallbaby under David Cohen was $5.80.

Mystic Soul, the 5-2 choice making her first start for Jeff Mullins after beginning her career in New York, looked like a winner in deep stretch.

"I broke from the 12-hole, so my main concern was to let her get in stride and, whereever she placed herself early on, I just wanted to save some ground and not be stuck four-wide," Gryder said of the runner-up. "She had enough tactical speed to put herself there and be on the bridle. I was happy with where I was at, but it wasn't where I expected to be. She really kicked hard. She fought down the lane but, as soon as that battle was over, (Valbenny) came and got us."